Automatic washer controls and methods



June 19, 1956 B. A. BUSS AUTOMATIC WASHER CONTROLS AND METHODS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 28, 1952 2 "1 ENE d5: 83.

TIME IN MINUTES FIG. I

6 3 .mmzoz: 55: 83

TIME IN MINUTES FIG. 2

IN VEN TOR. BENJAMIN ALVIN BUSS ATTORNEY June 19, 1956 uss 2,750,778

v AUTOMATIC WASHER CONTROLS AND METHQDS Filed July 28, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

BENJAMIN ALVIN BUSS naw Q4 611 ATTORNEY United States Patent AUTOMATICWASHER CONTROLS AND METHODS Benjamin Alvin Buss, East Moline, Ill.,assignor to American Machine and Metals, Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application July 28, 1952, Serial No. 301,240

Claims. (Cl. 68-17) This invention relates to a control device forcommercial washing machines and more particularly to an arrangement forcontrolling the sudsing operations in the washing program.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an automatic deviceresponsive to the action of suds with soil in a given batch of laundryand having a cooperative relationship with the rate of soap input into awasher whereby it becomes possible to most economically wash a givenload of laundry.

Another object of my invention is to provide a control device responsiveto the degree of soil in a batch of laundry to supply a soap solution tothe washer in a manner to conserve both soap and time in performingsudsing functions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a system coupled withapparatus which responds to the soap to soil ratio in a given load oflaundry during a given period of time determined by the rate of input ofa suds-forming. solution into a washer, and so correlating the supplytime with the time of soil with soap combination in such manner that thesupply of soap is cut off only after the soil soap combination hasattained a predetermined optimum ratio.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description and drawings, which aremerely exemplary.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a chart showing the relation between suds level and time;

Fig. 2 is a schematic chart illustrating the manner of operation;

Fig. 3 is a system diagram; and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view.

In commercial laundering the prime object is to obtain a satisfactorilyclean batch of laundry in the shortest possible period of time. posedwhereby fixed programs of operation have been set up that have reliedupon the washmans knowledge of requirements for a fixed batch of laundryof a degree of soil estimated, in most cases roughly, by the washman.

With such estimate, it has become a conventional practice to throw in agiven number of scoops of dry soap or to insert a manually measuredquantity of soap solution. This method is quite conducive to error ofone or more of the following described kinds.

In the event the degree of soil is underestimated the quantityof soapwill be assimilated rapidly by the soil and the suds level willdisappear or diminish to a point at which soap specks are deposited inthe laundry articles, which is undesirable. In the event the degree ofsoil is overestimated for a given measured quantity of soap, then thesuds becomes excessive and a large quantity of soapcan be wasted. In thefirst instance, it is conventional practice to watch the suds action andadd smaller quantities of soap as the suds level decreases. This,however, is wasteful of time of the washman and accordingly decreasesthe quantity of work that can be accomplished ice in a given period oftime by such washman. In the second instance, the operation isuneconomical because of the waste of soap and the need for longerrinsing due to excess soap.

I have discovered that by placing a well adjacent to the washer housing,the suds action can be precisely controlled, and accordingly waste ofsoap can be prevented and the minimum time for washing a batch oflaundry obtained. My device further permits elimination of the chancefor human error mentioned above by removing the necessity for accurateestimation of the degree of soil in a given batch of laundry.

I have accomplished this by providing soap supply at a predetermined butadjustable rate so that the soap solution supply is metered into thewasher at such a rate that suds can form gradually and the succeedingagitation of the batch of laundry will cause combination of soil to soapat a rate that will not permit rise of suds in the well attached to theshell of the washer until such time that the soil has absorbedsufiicient soap so that the water in the bottom of the shell is incondition to permit suds to enter the well. This action will not beobtained until a slight excess of suds occurs in the washer shell,which, upon further combination of soil with soap due to continuedagitation, will not cause dropping of suds to the point of creating soapspecks in the load of laundry.

Accordingly, what is provided in the structure to be described in detailbelow is a washing device which more accurately responds to the soil tosoap combination during a period of time that is determined by suchcombination of soil to soap. Accordingly, the soap supply is shut oifonly at the precise time when this combination attains a value at whicha minute percentage of suds can be given up out of the wash water andinto the Well attached to the shell of the washer, said shell having awater passage below the water level in the shell. An outstandingadvantage of this over previously proposed detection methods mountedwithin the shell of the washer is that it permits of varying suds levelswithin the Washer which can fluctuate depending upon the rate of soapinput and the suds to soil combination; but this action will not causeMany systems have been prosoap supply to be shut off until such time asthe washing solution has attained a point where a minute percentage ofsuds can be given up into the attached well. In actual practice, thisinvention, by operating in the manner described above, permits betterwashing with the elimination of guess work.

In addition, in the present invention I have provided for minuteadjustment of the suds to soil ratio before cutting off the flow of soapsolution to the washer. In the well I have provided a plurality ofelectrodes which may be selectively placed in a control circuit and willcut oil the flow of soap solution at slightly different times after soapsuds have begin to rise in the well indicating that the slight excess ofsoap mentioned above is being supplied. By this mechanism it becomespossible to vary the rate of soap solution input to further speed up thewashing cycle. In other words, while it is advantageous to supply soapat a high speed, it is wasteful of soap if this speed too greatlyexceeds the rate at which the soil can neutralize the same in solution.Presently known devices cannot control this ratio. However, I have foundthat with the present construction, such ratio can be preciselycontrolled, and for a maximum rate of soap input, different levels ofcontrol become most advantageous when different batches of laundry ofdifferent soil condition are encountered.

It has long been realized that there is a proper relation between thedetergent and the amount of soil present in a given load of soiledfabrics in a Washer. If the amount of detergent is insufficient, thesoil is redeposited on the clothes in the form of specks which are hardto remove.

if the amount of detergent is needlessly great, not only is thedetergent Wasted, but additional rinses are required causing a waste ofdetergent, water and time. Every washman attempts to empirically selectthe appropriate amount of detergent but with nothing other than a hunchto guide him, the result leaves much to be desired.

This invention is limited to washing with a suds-forrning detergent,such as soap. Hereinafter it will be understood that soap is used toinclude any detergent which includes a suds-forming component.

In the patent issued to John Chamberlin, No. 2,436,663, it is proposedto feed the detergent at a known concentration and at a known rate intoa bath of known depth. This is done while the bath and the soiledclothes contained therein are being tumbled. The detergent immediatelystarts to combine with the soil; the more soil prescut, the longer itwill be necessary to feed detergent before visible suds form on thesurface. Means are provided for detecting when the suds level reaches agiven depth, and then the detergent supply is shut off. This depth ofsuds is intended to provide enough detergent to allow the combination ofdetergent and soil to continue during the fixed period of agitationwithout completely exhausting the suds blanket which would cause soil tobe redeposited.

Such methods have not found practical application because the revolvingwasher is provided with ribs that elevate the clothes which tumble backinto the bath. This agitates the bath and as each rib descends into thepool or rises out of the pool surges are formed. In fact, the veryprincipal of washing calls for the entire space in the Washer to befilled with flying particles of a Washing solution.

Any attempt to detect the suds level by an electrode such as shown inHebard and Sheets Patent No. 2,422,897, is not feasible in all casesbecause the splashes of water will cause the suds level control torespond. It has been discovered that while the revolving cylinder willcause air to be carried down into the bath, this air will rise beforethe rib has passed completely through the pool until the point ofsufiiciency is approached. The point of sufliciency is that-point wherethe soil that has gone into solution has been neutralized by thedetergent leaving some free detergent in the water. The air which iscarried down into the bath now does not rise to the surface promptly,but remains suspended with the detergent for some time so that the bathbecomes a mixture of water, neutralized soil, clothes, free detergent,and air. The invention proposes to detect by sampling the bath below thesurface, and automatically indicating when the samples thus taken showthat the point of'sufficiency has been reached.

One method of accomplishing this is to provide a well adjacent to oneend of the washer shell and connected thereto by a sub-surface passage.

There is no splashing in the well due to the tumbling clothes; no sharprise and fall due to surge, and the level of the water in the well issubstantially the average level of the agitated pool. As detergent isadded to the water, it may form suds on the surface of the bath in'thewasher shell, but this is not recorded by the well. When, however, thepoint of sufiiciency is reached, and the entire bath becomes permeatedwith air bubbles and detergent, detergent and air bubbles will findtheir way through the sub-surface passage into the well and startforming the rising suds. level.

The. amount of the suds blanket depends upon many factors, including thelength of the period of agitation of the bath and the average amount ofsoil present in the clothes. In-order to permit the operator somechoice. as to the depth of the blanket, a number of electrodes have beenprovided, three in this instance, and the. operator may select any oneof these three electrodes to terminate the supply of detergent.

Since the water passing into the well will carry over some of the soilwhich tends to be deposited on the elec' trodes, there is danger of theelectrodes ceasing to function, particularly since it is necessary toprovide a transformer and use a high voltage and low amperage current.

on the electrodes. To this end, the lower end of the electrode isenlarged to give an enlarged surface of contact between the suds in thewell and the electrode, and a spray system is provided to wash off theelectrodes every time the wash water is dumped.

Since it is desired to shut off the supply of soap once the desiredlevel of suds is reached and not to add additional soap as this sudsblanket is used up, one feature of the invention is that when theautomatic device has broken the circuit which holds the detergent supplyvalve open, this valve is closed and it is not reopened when the sudslevel falls. A solenoid connected with the automatic control will closethis valve only when the next suds period starts.

Referring first to Fig. 1 a chart is shown where suds level in feet isplotted against time in minutes to further bring out the differencebetween my invention and conventionally practiced washroom procedure.Curve 10 shows the sudsing action when a given measure of soap that issomewhat under the amount actually required is introduced immediately atthe beginning of a wash cycle. Because the soil cannot instantly absorball this soap, initially the suds level will rise rapidly and may assumea considerable height within the washing cylinder. However, because thesoil thereafter absorbs the soap, the tendency will be for the sudslevel to fall rapidly because there is not enough soap for the amount ofsoil in the batch of laundry. Accordingly, unless the washman addsadditional soap within a proper period of time, the level may approach apoint 11 where there is substantially no suds level, and this can causesoap curds to attach to the fabrics and hence exceedingly prolong thetime required to arrive at arequired degree of cleanliness.

On the other hand, if the washman adds too much soap, the suds level mayrise as indicated by the curve 12 and stay at an unnecessarily highlevel which, although the clothes may be cleaned properly, will prolongthe time required for rinsing and will be wasteful of soap.

Curves 13, 14 and 15 represent respectively the action of suds'to timein practicing my invention. The curve 13 represents a batch of laundryhaving light soil, the curve 14 represents a batch of laundry havingmedium soil, and the curve 15 represents a batch of laundry having heavysoil. Of course, it is to be understood, that a whole family of curvesis possible, depending upon the various degrees of soil encountered, andmy invention is adapted to automatically compensate for such variousconditions.

The soap solution is introduced at a given constant rate represented bythe horizontal curve 16. This rate is preferably slightly below the ratethat soap can be absorbed by the lightest soil encountered. Whenintroduced' at such rate, only a negligible suds level will be formed,and this will constantly be worked down into the bath so that it willcombine with the soil. As. soap continues to be introduced, the timethat the suds level will rise will be approached gradually. When allsoil in a given bath has combined with soap, the suds level will startto rise. Accordingly, for light soil, for example after one minute, thesuds level will begin to rise at the point 17. For medium soil the sudslevel would begin to rise at the. point 18. For heavy soil the suds.level would begin to rise at the point 19. The figures on the chart are.by way of example only and are not to be construed as. limiting myinvention because any amount of time may be required, and it isconceivable that in a given bath of exceedingly soiled laundry the sudslevel may not begin to rise until additional baths are introduced.

Figure 2 is set forth by way of example to show the flexible action ofmy'improved soap shut off'mechanism. Light. soil curves 13A, 13B and 13Care shown. The curve 13A would result if an electrode 20 is placed in acontrolling circuit. Curve 13B would be attained if an electrode 21 werein the control circuit. Curve 13C would be attained if an electrode 22were in the control circuit. Such different circu'ts permit ofproviding'for relatively higher or lower suds levels which a washman maydetermine upon observing the suds present in the drain from a givenprevious bath. Another advantageous mode of operation is that the higherlevel 13A may be selected for the first suds bath. The level 13B may beselected for succeeding baths after the first and the level 13C may beselected for the last suds bath, such providing further flexibility andconservation of soap.

Fig. 3 shows my invention in use in a washer comprising a conventionalstationary shell 31 and a suitably perforated rotatable drum 32 mountedon a shaft 33. A suitable liquid level 34 is selected, which level ispreferably above an inlet 35 to a well 36 which contains the electrodes20, 21 and 22. The suds level 37 is shown as existing a small distanceabove the water level, and such condition is obtained as soap is beingsupplied through an inlet 40. A pipe 41 delivers soap to the inlet andsuitable other inlets, not shown, which can be distributed along theshell of the washer to best introduce substantially equal portions intothe ditferent segments of the washer. A soap pump 42 is controlledthrough wires 43, 44 and 45 by way of a latchout relay 46. Although thespecific structure hereof forms no part of the present invention, adiagrammatic arrangement is shown for controlling the soap supply underinfluence of the electrodes 20, 21 and 22.

A transformer relay includes a primary winding 51 energized from wires52 and 53 and a high voltage secondary 55. When the circuit from thesecondary 55 is open, flux passes through legs 56, 57, 58 and 59, whichlegs saturate and hence very little energy is drawn from lines 52 and53. However, when the suds level rises to contact any one of the probes20, 21 and 22 which can be selected by a switch 60, the circuit iscompleted. With the switch 60 in the position shown there is a circuitfrom a wire 61 that is grounded to the shell 31 or the base casting 62of the well 36, through electrode 21, wire 63, switch 60 and wire 64,back to the winding 55. Such energization will cause a backmagnetomotive force to exist in legs 57, 58 and 59 and will divertenergy into legs 66 and 67 and through a movable armature 68 which isbiased by a spring 69 into the position shown. A contact bar 70 will becaused to bridge contacts 71 and 72 to cause energization of a solenoid73, or the like. The solenoid 73 will break contacts at 46 and will belatched by a pawl 74 to prevent further supply of soap through pipe 41.As pointed out above, this supply has been operating at a predeterminedrate and shuts 0115 only when the suds level begins to rise in the well36 which occurs only when the bath water has an excess of soap inproportion to soil in solution. A pawl release solenoid 74A is providedto re-energize the soap supply pump 42 when more soap is required.

At the time of dumping a given bath through conventional dump valvemeans, not shown, but normally controlled by an electric valve or thelike, I also energize the valve 80 which supplies flushing water througha pipe 81 to a vent 83 and also to a spray head 84 for flushing out thevent 83 and the well 36.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which shows the details of constructionof the well 36. The casting 35 may be bolted to the shell 31 as by bolts85. A gasket 86 is adapted to seal the same. A glass cylinder 87 issecured between a gasket 88 in a flattened upper surface of the casting35 and a gasket 89 of a cover 90. An electrode box 91 is also secured tothe cover 90. Electrode holders 92, 93 and 94 may be similar inconstruction to spark plugs and secure the electrodes 20, 21 and 22,respectively. In actual construction, the assembly 36 is more compactthan shown but the same has been opened up to clearly show therelationship of parts.

As mentioned above, a spray nozzle 84 .is arranged within the well 36 sothat it can wash down the walls and also wash off the electrodes 20, 21and 22. This washing down is done at the time of dumping the washer, andthe air vent is also washed out to further remove any suds. Completecleansing in my device is not required inasmuch as I use a relativelyhigh voltage on electrodes 20, 21 and 22, which voltage has the abilityto break off any lime accumulation or any dried suds that may remainbetween successive washing operations.

It is to be noted that the suds level 37 within the shell 31 risessubstantially higher than the level 95 within the well 36. Accordingly,this further renders possible a compact structure of the well 36.

Having now described my invention in detail, it is to be understood thatthe specific disclosure is only by way of example, and that I am to belimited in my invention only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine having a shell, means for agitating a load ofsoiled laundry therein, and means feeding water and soap thereto, thecombination including a separate chamber, means connecting a portion ofsaid chamber spaced below the top thereof with said shell at a pointnear the normal water level in the shell, detecting means responsive toa predetermined suds level in said chamber, said suds level beingproportional to the suds level in said shell, and means connected tosaid detecting means for shutting ofi soap supply when the suds in theshell have increased the effective liquid head in said shell apredetermined amount to cause the level in said chamber to rise andactuate said detecting means.

2. In a washing machine having a shell, means for agitating a load ofsoiled laundry therein, and means feeding water and soap thereto, thecombination including a separate chamber, means connecting a portion ofsaid chamber spaced below the top thereof with said shell at a pointnear the normal water level in the shell, electrically conductivedetecting means having suds engageable electrode means responsive to apredetermined suds level in said chamber, said suds level beingproportional to the suds level in said shell, and means connected tosaid electrode means for shutting ofi soap supply when the suds in theshell have increased the effective liquid head in said shell apredetermined amount to cause the suds level in said chamber to rise tocontact said electrode means.

3. In a washing machine having a shell, means for agitating a load ofsoiled laundry therein, and means feeding water thereto, the combinationincluding a separate chamber, means connecting a portion of said chamberbelow its top with said shell at a point near the normal water level inthe shell, suds level electrode detecting means in said chamberresponsive to a predetermined suds level in said chamber, said sudslevel being proportional to the suds level in said shell, metering meansadapted to feed soap to said shell at an initial rate below the rate ofsoap and soil combination, and electric circuit means connected to saidelectrode means and said means feeding soap including relay means forshutting off soap supply when the suds in the shell have increased theeffective liquid head therein a predetermined amount and the suds levelin said chamber has risen to contact said electrode means.

4. In a washing machine having a shell, means for agitating a load ofsoiled laundry therein, and means feeding water and soap thereto, thecombination including a separate chamber, means connecting a portion ofsaid chamber adjacent the bottom thereof with said shell at a point nearthe normal water level in the shell, electric detecting means having atleast three suds engageable electrodes responsive selectively topredetermined suds levels in said chamber, said suds levels beingproportional to the suds level in said shell, electric circuit meansselectively connectable to a selected electrode and to the means feedingsoap supply to shut off the soap supply when the suds in the shell haveincreased the elfective liquid head in said shell a predetermined amountto cause the suds level in said chamber to rise to contact saidelectrodes.

5. In a washing machine having a shell, means for agitating' a load ofsoiled laundry therein, and means feeding water thereto, the combinationincluding metering means feeding soap initially at a rate less than therate of combination of soap and soil, suds level responsive meansconnected to said shell, said suds level means including electrode meansadapted to be contacted by suds, and an electric circuit connected tosaid electrode means and said means feeding soap for closing said meansfeeding soap when an electric current fiows through said circuit due tothe presence of suds at said electrode means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHERREFERENCES When Laundering Becomes a Science it Will No Longer Be Donein the HomeTroy Research, American Machine & Metals, Inc., pages 8 and9, 1941.

